Underworld (2003) with Greg MacLennan and Steven C. Miller

·1 hr 16 min·5 clips

The ancient blood feud between vampires and werewolves refuses to die, setting the stage for a cult film dissection.

The episode of Junkfood Cinema focuses on a deep-dive into the 2003 film Underworld. Host Brian Salisbury is joined by regular co-host and editor Greg MacLennan and director Steven C. Miller, both promoting their new film Werewolves. The conversation begins with the film's dramatic opening monologue and its place in the early 2000s trend of 'Matrix-ified' aesthetics, noting the leather costumes and techno score. The hosts critique the film's heavy reliance on exposition, joking that over two hours of the runtime is dedicated to explaining lore. They explore the film's core as a Romeo and Juliet story with vampires and werewolves, highlighting the lack of agency for Scott Speedman's character. A significant portion discusses the film's practical effects, including the innovative use of animatronic werewolf suits on stilts and the fast-paced transformations. The episode reveals that writer Kevin Grevioux infused the vampire-werewolf feud with allegories about racial prejudice based on his personal dating experiences. The cultural impact of Underworld is examined, framing it as a precursor to Twilight and a successful female-led franchise that followed Resident Evil. The hosts also touch on behind-the-scenes details, like director Len Wiseman's music video background and the on-set romance between Wiseman and star Kate Beckinsale. The conversation frequently loops back to promoting the guests' film Werewolves, discussing its production and tight editing. The episode concludes with the show's signature 'junk food pairing' segment, suggesting themed snacks like Count Chocula mixed with Fruit Brute cereal.

As heard by us

A sharp, funny defense of Underworld's momentum and Bill Nighy's scene-stealing vampire gravitas.

Underworld gives Junk Food Cinema a clean runway for the kind of movie talk it does best: quick, affectionate, and happily stuck on the details that make a cult action-horror piece linger.

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Why you'd press play

You want Bill Nighy's wonderfully strange vampire performance and a cult-movie conversation that keeps running on momentum.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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